This year, the Korean sports community suffered from the controversy over the privatization of various associations.
The Korea Badminton Association said various problems surfaced after Ahn Se-young (Samsung Life Insurance), a gold medalist in women’s singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
According to an audit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Badminton Association was criticized for its absurd culture within the team, unfair contracts with sponsors, and restrictions on participation in international competitions.
Kim Taek-kyu, president of the Badminton Association, has been asked to dismiss him by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, including violations of the subsidy law and bullying at work, but he has expressed his intention to run for the next president of the association for a second term.
The Korea Football Association, armed with a golden generation such as captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), also had the worst year.
Chung Mong-kyu, president of the Korea Football Association, was even booed during home games due to numerous controversies, ranging from last year’s amnesty scandal as a match-fixing soccer player to suspicions about the process of appointing Hong Myung-bo this summer.
Recently, Chairman Chung made his bid for a fourth consecutive term official and said, “We will restore trust through bold reform. We will come up with measures to communicate with the public regularly and effectively.” However, his eyes are still burning.
Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korea Sports and Olympic Committee, was notified of the suspension of his duties by the Ministry of Culture, Sports.
As a result of the government’s joint public service inspection team in the Cabinet Office’s inspection of irregularities in the sports association, Chairman Lee faced various suspicions such as illegal hiring of employees, demand for sponsorship of goods, private use of sponsored goods, and waste of the sports association’s budget. 먹튀검증
Despite the court’s rejection of his request for a stay of execution, Lee will seek a third term in office.
The Korean sports community is facing a critical crossroads in breaking down old practices and making a full-scale overhaul.
